GTA4..such a disappointment!~

**S.Charlie Gog** · 12-28-2008, 07:16 PM

Ok for starters I've been a fan of the GTA series since the very first one..hated the over head look but it was still a great game.When GTA III came out I waited anxiously every day until it shipped as I did with Vice City and San Andreas. When my PS2 blew up I went out that very day and bought the PC version of San Andreas and VC, because i could not go without them.
In fact to show how big into the GTA titles I am..just take a look at the name of my site as well as the first team I starte dout with (VCEvolution which originally 'way back when' Team Vice City)

I don't have the money for a PS3, and have no desire for an Xbox (just a preference nothing too personal Xbox owners

) so I waited once again anxiously for the GTA4 title to make it to PC.Each version of the game had a few differences from the console to the PC so I was ready for that...but what I got was a shock and serious disappointment!

My PC is more then powerful enough now to handle most of the heavy duty graphic games, since i upgraded my graphics card to a EVGA 9400..to give you an example of its strength - GTR2/Spa/Full Grid/Everything on Full = no lag! So I was ready for GTA4, even though I had already heard so many complaints about the PC version..those come with every release so I tend to ignore the many rants like "This game looks like crap on my machine!" or "This game is too hard to play" 9 out of 10 times those are from people who are either just getting into gaming, coming from consoles or don't pay attention to what the system req's are to run the game.

When I installed I went through this -
I go to install the initial game
Got stopped right away because I did not have SP1 for Vista yet
Installed SP1
Got stopped right away after installing because the most recent version of the Windows Live Play thingy was not installed..even though I seriously doubted playing online with it due to my weak connection.I figured Id learn the game, the go online and kick my butt kicked

Got the Windows live play thingy installed
Started up the game
Had to make a Rockstar account..make that a new one because my old one for SA and VC did not work
Took care of that
Launched the game..
Waited
Waited some more
Waited even more
Was about to crash and it started
No sound
Then weak sound
Then an opening scene that was choppy
Then finally the game play starts and it's lagging so badly it's impossible to play..reminded me of my old computer (the one that blew up)
I go into the settings..half of them I can't see but I try to adjust everything the best I can (lowered everything to the min)
Go back into the game..controller doesnt work..yaaaaaaaaay!!

So I do some forum searching..found a fix for those of us who use the Rumble Pad2 by Logitech because apparently not only has Rockstar pimped its software out to Microsnot, they now expect you to own a 360 controller.
I get the controller working
Check my settings again
Go into the game
Am amazed at the detail
Saddened by the lag
Shut the game off
Uninstalled it
and am now so disappointed in Rockstar!

I didn't mind all the CD check/security crap they put on my machine..I mean it's their prerogative to do so. What honestly really disappointed me was Rockstar's lack of support. In the past when there was an issue they were all over it with a fix..but now they "claim" there's PC patch on the way, which will optimize the graphics and make it more GPU friendly, but when you go to the site and check on the support there's not even an option for GTA4, instead you get the run around.
One forum I checked that had a Rockstar representative posting info about the patch really explained why it has not surfaced yet..some what unintentionally..he stated that they (Rockstar) are waiting on Microsoft's "approval" of the patch.

yaaaaaaaaaaaaay micrsnot!

It'll never happen..and this is coming from a very optimistic person!

Really disappointed in Rockstar..when I was involved with them during the post VC and pre SA days as a tester they were really on the ball..in fact there were a lot of anti-microsnot comments passed around...guess the jokes on them now..or rather all of us who blew the $$$ on the PC version.

I've reverted my machine back to XP just to get the full strength out of it but just can't bring myself to reinstalling GTA4 yet. Word around the boards is that it just work somewhat "better" (again better not good) on XP.

We'll see.

**oompaloompafive7** · 12-28-2008, 07:28 PM

I'm sorry you've had so many problems with GTA IV on the PC! I too have the game, but I haven't had anywhere near your amount of issues. In fact, I've been quite happy with mine. I got mine through steam and the only things I've been disappointed with has been having to wait till the next day after the release to play (sucked, but that's just part of buying through steam) and I'm not happy with the multiplayer at all. I actually haven't even played online because I hated the way you join mp games on it.

Unfortunately, from what I can tell, this is a game that is intended by R* to run on "future" machines...which screws us now lol. Mine is playable and, while there are occasional slowdowns, it's not enough to keep me away.

Hopefully your luck will get better!

**davidan** · 12-28-2008, 09:03 PM

I dont have the PC version but I have the XBOX 360 version and it's awesome! Definitely one of the best games of all time. I think I am about 1/4th of the way through it only at this point, but I've done about 15 missions or so.

**S.Charlie Gog** · 12-28-2008, 09:57 PM

Originally Posted by oompaloompafive7

I'm sorry you've had so many problems with GTA IV on the PC! I too have the game, but I haven't had anywhere near your amount of issues. In fact, I've been quite happy with mine. I got mine through steam and the only things I've been disappointed with has been having to wait till the next day after the release to play (sucked, but that's just part of buying through steam) and I'm not happy with the multiplayer at all. I actually haven't even played online because I hated the way you join mp games on it.

Unfortunately, from what I can tell, this is a game that is intended by R* to run on "future" machines...which screws us now lol. Mine is playable and, while there are occasional slowdowns, it's not enough to keep me away.

Hopefully your luck will get better!

Which OS are you using..I had heard more people with XP have had "less" issues?